Extra help is being provided for deaf or hard of hearing people to get through to Middlesbrough Council's warden service.

A new text number - 0791 930 3088 - is being provided for deaf and hard of hearing people to contact the wardens.

The wardens will reply to the message by text.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may prefer to use the new text facility instead of the Minicom service which can take longer as it requires an operator to relay the messages between the caller and receiver. The Minicom number 01642 228700.

Brenda Thompson, the council's Executive member for social care and health, said: "This is a very simple way to make the service so much easier to use for deaf people."